Devotees Visit Many Temples in Secunderabad
Devotional fervour and drumbeats fill Secunderabad as lakhs throng Ujjaini Mahankali and neighbourhood temples for Bonalu celebrations.
Hyderabad: Secunderabad and surrounding areas came alive on Sunday to the devotional chants, drumbeats and thunderous energy of Potharajus, as the Bonalu festivities commenced, with lakhs thronging various temples.
While Ujjaini Mahankali Temple remained the main attraction, devotees visited several other temples in Secunderabad such as including Mavurala Pedamma, Dokalamma, Katta Maisamma, Gandi Maisamma and Yellamma temples — all located within two kilometre radius of the Ujjaini Mahankali Temple.
People were seen carrying Thottelas to offer to the goddess part of the rituals.
At Mavurala Pedamma Temple, RP Road, Jogini Nisha Kranthi said like every year they offered bonams to the goddess. "Endowments and other departments have made commendable arrangements for us. I prayed to the goddess to provide abundant rains and prosperity to the state,” Nisha said.
Mavurala Peddamma temple priest Bhaskarabhatla Chalapathy Sharma said the goddess protects the local people as a Grama Devatha. "Devotees not just from Secunderabad but also from other parts of the state come here to offer bonams and celebrate Bonalu for three days,” Sharma said.
Several first time visitors also shared their experiences. “I heard a lot about this temple and decided to come from Karimnagar for the first time. The experience has been spiritually fulfilling. I plan to return every year,” said Latha Thangelapalli.
S. Lavanya, a resident of Bansilalpet, said “Offering Bonam at Mahankali and Peddamma temples has been a family tradition that we continue without fail every year".
Several surrounding areas of Secunderabad such as Musheerabad, West Maredpally, Lallaguda, Moula Ali, Bowenpally, Cantonment and Sanathnagar also witnessed vibrant processions, temples decorated with lights and flowers.